Behaviourist Approach Evaluation

An explanation and evaluation the Behaviorist approach to Psychotherapy.
In this essay I shall explain what the behaviorist approach is. In order to do this I shall be examining the historical perspective of behaviourism.
I shall need to evaluate the behaviourist approach and it's effectiveness in the treatment of the whole person and shall briefly compare it to some of the other approaches to treatment.
The fundamental approach of behaviourism and psychoanalytical therapy seems diametrically opposed and it will be interesting to see how some therapists are able to incorporate both of these approaches into their treatment techniques.
Behaviourism is defined in the Collin's Dictionary as" the guiding principle of certain psychologists
Because the rat has been previously deprived of food, it is assumed that the rat will be ' motivated' to look for food.
So operant conditioning refers to increasing the probability of a response in a particular stimulus environment by following the response with reinforcement.
Behaviour therapy and modification have taught us that the principles from learning theory can be introduced to modify undesirable behaviour. Using first rats and then pigeons, Skinner did the groundwork for behaviour therapists to begin applying these ideas to humans.
Learning theory, unlike Piagetian or Freudian theory, concentrates on overt behaviour ( that which is easily seen) rather than what goes on within the mind.
In this theory the power of the environment and experiences are stressed and the role of biological maturation is minimised. It views the child as a malleable creature who wants more pleasure than pain and will do things that will gain rewards and steer away from actions which are punished. Learning looked at in this way is simply "the process by which behaviour is modified as a result of
This couples the stimulus which the patient desires to avoid with an unpleasant experience. It has been used with addictions like tobacco and alcohol and also in some cases with homosexuals or sex offenders. Their use dates back to the late 19th century or earlier, tobacco, morphine and alcohol addictions being treated in this way, in Europe. Hypnosis has since been utilised and commonly hypnotic suggestions ranging from moderate disgust to nausea and vomiting were associated with the patient's contact with the addictive substance. (Bernheim 1903, Tuckey 1907, Moll 1909, Forel 1927, Grasset 1904.) Use of such techniques using hypnosis continued to the mid 20th century (Kroger 1942,1970; Hershman 1955,1956; Erickson 1954, Von Dendroth 1964,1965.). However it is recognised that there are other more effective techniques used